Even though World War II officially started on September 3, 1939, when Britain and France declared war on Germany, most historians say it began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1. Hitler’s actions were a result of the Treaty of Versailles; Hitler and the German nation were furious at the fact of the demilitarized zone and the economic terms of the treaty. He wanted the German nation to rise and become even more powerful then any other nation. The Allied and Axis forces began to prepare for war. As war preparations were being made; British soldiers landed in France and British children were being evacuated. For a war both sides thought would start right away, “The British press dubbed it the “sitzkrieg” — the expected terror of Total War had not yet emerged” (McDonald). This “sitzkrieg” was also called the Phoney War because of the lack of battles involved. Battles didn’t actually start till the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, which all led up to the Battle of Dunkirk (McDonald).
German parachutist landing in the low lands, before the invasion of the Netherlands in 1940.
German invasion into Netherlands: On May 10, 1940, the invasion of the Netherlands began with German parachutists landing in the middle of the country and taking over main roads and bridges. They did this to open up the roads and bridges for land troopers that Germany want to take through the region. After two days, most of the Netherlands were taken over by Germans. A day after that the Dutch army surrendered with Queen Wilhelmina on her way to England on May 13 (Britannica).
Photograph:Wilhelmina, 1909.
German invasion into Belgium and France: On May 10, 1940, Germany started its invasion into France and Belgium with two operations, the first one Fall Gelb (case yellow) and the second one Fall Rot (case red). The goal of Fall Gelb was to cut off the connection of the Allied powers in Belgium and the Allied powers in France to fight against them separately. The goal from Fall Rot was to push the Allied units back, start an attack and advance deep into France. Both were successful and nine days after, on June 14, the Germans conquered Paris. The attack on Dunkirk was a result of Fall Gelb, where part of the German army under the command of General Guderian, captured the cities of Armiens and Abbeville, surrounding the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), commanded by Lord Gort, and the French First Army, led by General Blanchard. However, this maneuver put the German army in danger of an Allied counteroffensive. On May 21, the BEF did launch an attack at the Battle of Arras, but it only achieved limited success and ultimately failed. The attack did make clear that the Allied forces might make a counterattack which could break through German lines. On May 24, Adolf Hitler visited General von Rundstedt, leader of the Dunkirk invasion, to discuss the German army’s course of action (Rickard).
Retreat to Dunkirk, Evening of 25 May 1940
Germany had Dunkirk surrounded. Gerd von Rundstedt and Günther von Kluge suggested that Hitler not call the halt. Hermann Göring said that he should call a halt to prevent an Allied breakthrough. Hitler had a big decision to make. Put yourself in his shoes and prepare to possibly rewrite all of history.
Even though World War II officially started on September 3, 1939, when Britain and France declared war on Germany, most historians say it began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1. Hitler’s actions were a result of the Treaty of Versailles; Hitler and the German nation were furious at the fact of the demilitarized zone and the economic terms of the treaty. He wanted the German nation to rise and become even more powerful then any other nation. The Allied and Axis forces began to prepare for war. As war preparations were being made; British soldiers landed in France and British children were being evacuated. For a war both sides thought would start right away, “The British press dubbed it the “sitzkrieg” — the expected terror of Total War had not yet emerged” (McDonald). This “sitzkrieg” was also called the Phoney War because of the lack of battles involved. Battles didn’t actually start till the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, which all led up to the Battle of Dunkirk (McDonald).
German invasion into Netherlands:
On May 10, 1940, the invasion of the Netherlands began with German parachutists landing in the middle of the country and taking over main roads and bridges. They did this to open up the roads and bridges for land troopers that Germany want to take through the region. After two days, most of the Netherlands were taken over by Germans. A day after that the Dutch army surrendered with Queen Wilhelmina on her way to England on May 13 (Britannica).
German invasion into Belgium and France:
On May 10, 1940, Germany started its invasion into France and Belgium with two operations, the first one Fall Gelb (case yellow) and the second one Fall Rot (case red). The goal of Fall Gelb was to cut off the connection of the Allied powers in Belgium and the Allied powers in France to fight against them separately. The goal from Fall Rot was to push the Allied units back, start an attack and advance deep into France. Both were successful and nine days after, on June 14, the Germans conquered Paris. The attack on Dunkirk was a result of Fall Gelb, where part of the German army under the command of General Guderian, captured the cities of Armiens and Abbeville, surrounding the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), commanded by Lord Gort, and the French First Army, led by General Blanchard. However, this maneuver put the German army in danger of an Allied counteroffensive. On May 21, the BEF did launch an attack at the Battle of Arras, but it only achieved limited success and ultimately failed. The attack did make clear that the Allied forces might make a counterattack which could break through German lines. On May 24, Adolf Hitler visited General von Rundstedt, leader of the Dunkirk invasion, to discuss the German army’s course of action (Rickard).
Germany had Dunkirk surrounded. Gerd von Rundstedt and Günther von Kluge suggested that Hitler not call the halt. Hermann Göring said that he should call a halt to prevent an Allied breakthrough. Hitler had a big decision to make. Put yourself in his shoes and prepare to possibly rewrite all of history.
THE DECISION